Our Good Shepherd

• View transcript

  Our Good Shepherd

  Download transcript

  My name is Chris Peterson, and I have the privilege of serving here as one of the elders, and it's my privilege today to be able to bring you the Word of God from John 10:11-18. A few weeks ago or maybe a month ago now when John preached and he was introducing his children and I was thinking to myself, if I did that, it would take so long, I would probably have ten minutes left to preach. And then I got to thinking about another thing that my children now are in a different stage in life. They're all a young adults, and so now they're at the place where I get to wear their clothes. So thanks to Judah for the coat and tie. Thanks to Elijah for the shirt and Noah for the khakis...so, complete ensemble. None of it's mine. But we're easy to spot. Usually we're back there, and we have one row. Uh, now we're over here and we about to have the whole section. So if you're looking for us, uh, we're not hard to find. I just I wanted to start off with a with an illustration from my past. You guys may remember a few years ago when I preached, I talked about a farm that I grew up on in Central Florida, and I talked about picking okra. And a faithful Brother this morning came up to me and asked me about that. And I said, well, you know, guess what? I'm going to be talking about that farm again today...in a different way. So when I was about ten years old, we lived on a farm in Central Florida, as I just mentioned. There was a natural lime deposit with a lake in the middle of it. If you know anything about lime here in North Carolina, we're lime deficient, so we don't have hardly any lime. That's why we're always putting lime on our yard. But in Florida, lime is everywhere. And on our land we had a lime deposit that trucks came in and mined. And so we, we used to fish from the bank, but we only swam in a certain area of the lake because that's where the alligators usually normally didn't come into. But one day, my cousin and I were fishing on the bank, and he decided that he wanted a better position in deeper water. So this particular deposit was entered by one road and led down into a pit and it was surrounded by cliffs on all sides except where we were fishing. So he climbed up one cliff and disappeared out of my sight. A few minutes later I heard a huge splash and him crying out. It was around the corner so I couldn't see him, so I ran quickly and got my uncle and he didn't hesitate to come to the rescue of his son. When we got to the bank, he dove in and started swimming towards his son's voice. He knew there were alligators in the water, but that didn't deter him from risking his life to save his son. Well, I can't leave you hanging. So after what seemed like hours with no sound coming from that direction, I saw my uncle using a cliffside in the water to drag him and my cousin back. My uncle knew the danger. But like the shepherds in Israel who put their life on the line and would give up their life for their sheep, he jumped into dangerous waters to save his son. Have you ever thought of yourself as a sheep and Christ your shepherd? Do you consider yourself a loner who doesn't need anybody, but is content on handling things without the help of and guidance of others? Or do you value being guided and cared for? Today we will look at Jesus, and we will look and see that Jesus was not just a good shepherd, but that he was THE good Shepherd. The main idea this morning is that Jesus fulfils his role as the good Shepherd from God, who is driven by love for his sheep and for his Father. I'll read that again. Jesus fulfills his role as the good Shepherd from God, who is driven by love for his sheep and for his Father.
  So let's start by reading the passage in John 10:11-18. So if you'll please turn in your Bibles there and then I'll set it in context in John's gospel. John 10:11... "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees. And the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know my own and my own know me, even as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. And they will become one flock with one shepherd. For this reason, the Father loves me because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. No one has taken it from me, but I lay it down on my own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from my Father."
  Pray with me. Father, thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, who is the good Shepherd, and who did lay down his life for his sheep. Thank you, Father, that all that you give him will come to him. And the one who comes to him, he will certainly not cast out. May we see in the text this morning the true shepherd, who loves his sheep perfectly by being obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. May we look to the good Shepherd, who has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and excellence. Draw us to yourself through your word, in Christ's name. Amen.
  So Jesus' words in John 10 have roots in the Old Testament, where we see bad shepherds depicted in Ezekiel 34:1-3, where he prophesies against them. In Ezekiel 34 it reads, "then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say to those shepherds, thus says the Lord God, woe shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves. Should not the shepherds feed the flock? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with wool. You slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock. Who does that sound like?...the Pharisees that we're going to read about in our text. Then in verse 10 of Ezekiel 34, we read the actual judgment being pronounced on those shepherds. "Thus says the Lord God, behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand my sheep from them, and make them cease from feeding sheep. So, the shepherds will not feed themselves anymore but I will deliver my flock from their mouth so that they will not be food for them." Isn't that a picture of the New Testament? Where the religious leaders were replaced with the one good Shepherd and the one spoken of in Ezekiel 34:23, which we'll read in a second. And here we'll see the reference of David's throne, which points to Christ Jesus as the Shepherd of God, that God will set over his people. So Ezekiel 34:23-24 says, "then I will set over them one shepherd, my shepherd, and he will feed them. He will feed them himself and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I, the Lord, have spoken.” Back in John we see the bad shepherds are now the religious leaders of Jesus' day. And Jesus is the good Shepherd, who we just read about and was prophesied in Ezekiel. In John 8 He tells the Pharisees that they are of their father, the devil. And they tried to stone him, but he hid himself and went out of the temple. At this time the Pharisees caught up with him, and chapter 9 begins with Jesus leaving the temple and healing the blind man. And this is when the Pharisees caught up with him. At the end of chapter 9, the religious leaders had put the man born blind out of the synagogue. And then Jesus finds him in verse 35 and said to him, do you believe in the Son of Man? He answered, who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him? Jesus said to him, you have both seen him, and he is the one talking with you. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him. Now this is significant and points to Christ's deity because it was not fitting for a prophet or for an apostle to receive worship. Paul and Barnabas rebuked the people of Lystra when they tried to worship them in Acts 14. So now chapter 9 closes with Jesus bringing into the fold his fold the man born blind who the false shepherds had put out. Then he pronounces judgment on those same false shepherds in John 9:39-41. He says, "for judgment I came into this world so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind. Those are the Pharisees who were with him, heard these things, and said to him, we are not blind too. Are we? Jesus said to them, if you were blind, you would have no sin. But since you say we see, your sin remains." They were blind and could not even see the the phenomenal miracle that Jesus had just performed due to their hatred toward him, having exposed them for the false shepherds that they truly were. Now, as he begins to preach in chapter ten, the Pharisees, the man born blind, and the disciples all are there to hear his declaration that he is in fact the good Shepherd that was spoken of in Ezekiel. As we begin, I want to remind us, as John tells us, why he wrote the book in chapter 20:31. John says, "but these things have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name." There's no other way to be saved apart from coming to Christ. That was John's purpose in writing the gospel, that people would believe in Christ and be saved. Jesus told people how to be saved, and he also told them how he cares for his sheep as their shepherd.
  Now let's look at three characteristics of the love of the shepherd.
  The first characteristic we'll see in verses 11 through 15 is the sacrificial love of the shepherd. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know my own and my own know me, even as the father knows me and I know my father, I lay down my life for the sheep." Here we see the fourth 'I am' statement in the Gospel of John. And earlier in chapter 9 we see another 'I am' statement. I am the door. Which speaks of Christ's exclusivity. I am the door is the same as we see in John 14. I am the way. I'm the only door. I am the only way. So he's speaking of his own exclusivity. But we see here in... I am the good shepherd that he speaks of his sacrifice. The word used here can mean the word good here...I am the good shepherd can mean morally good, but also beautiful, magnified, winsome, attractive, lovely, excellent on all levels. That's the Greek word that's being used here. The Greek word for shepherd is poimen and translated from the Latin. We get our English word pastor. To emphasize his sacrificial love Jesus repeats the phrase, I lay down my life four times in these eight verses. The good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep, Verse 11. I lay down my life for the sheep, Verse 15. I lay down my life so that I may take it up again, Verse 17. And I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again, verse 18. The Lord Jesus Christ himself is telling us at what length he will go to to bring you to himself. Being a shepherd in those days not only was extremely dangerous, but it took great courage and fortitude. The shepherd knew the risks when he took the job or even the owner of the sheep, he knew what he was getting into. They faced the elements, worked long hours, and most assuredly would encounter and have to fend off wild animals. That was part of the job. Psalm 130 gives us a picture of a shepherd looking for the hope of the sun coming up, due to staying alert at night for the flock. The psalmist says, my soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning, indeed more than the watchmen for the morning. And in 1 Samuel, David approaches Saul and gives Saul his shepherding credentials. 1 Samuel 17:34,but David said to Saul, your servant was tending his father's sheep, when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went out after him and attacked him and rescued it from his mouth. And when he rose up against me, I seized him by the beard and struck him and killed him. That's what a shepherd did. He protected his flock at all costs, even at the cost of his life. Now, is that not the picture of a manly man? He grabs him by the beard. I didn't even know they had a beard. And he struck him and killed him. Well, again, looking back to verse 9, we're going to ring verse 9 in chapter 10 dry, even though it's not in our passages. But it's just a good looking forward. So looking back to verse 9 where Jesus says, I am the door. In those days, wolves and robbers could enter the pen over the fence, kill the sheep, and actually by slitting the sheep's throat and pull them over the wall. A shepherd would build a pen in the shape of a U out of the bushes and brush, and put the thorny bushes over the top to keep the predators out. The shepherd himself would lay across the opening of the u shaped pen, becoming the door himself. So that's a that's a visual picture of the shepherd actually becoming the door. And so there was no way in or out except through or over the shepherd. When I was in high school a few years ago...ask Mark Ikerd...he knows because I graduated with him. I remember a night when I was out past my curfew. My dad, who was...Yeah. You're probably thinking only one night, but this was a particular night that that is burnt into my memory, because my dad, who was worried for my safety, came looking for me. Around 2 a.m. he came walking through the door of the gathering that I was at. No words were spoken...just as intimidating...burnt a hole in me, but with a hint of gentleness look along with the unspoken and implied...let's go. He didn't even have to say anything. And so I got into the car and neither one of us spoke on the way home. I was frustrated and angry, but can remember as I sat there quietly, having a sense of relief at knowing how much my dad must have loved me to come looking for me and find me no matter what it took. He didn't know what he was going to face, but he just knew that he was going to find his son. Even as a non-believer, that night impacted me deeply and caused me to never doubt his great love for me. So in verse 12, we get the opposite. We find a definition of a hireling. He makes no attempt to gather the scattered sheep. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. Isn't that the opposite of our good Shepherd, who not only laid down his life for us undeserving sheep, but he also promises never to leave us and never forsake us in Hebrews 13? Charles Spurgeon wrote, "it means that the sacrifice was actively performed. It was ever in the doing as long as he lived, but he did it actively. He did not die for the sheep merely, but he laid down his life, which is another thing. Many a man has died for Christ. It was all that he could do. But we cannot lay down our lives because they are due already as a debt of nature to God, and we are not permitted to die at our own wills. With the Lord Christ, that was totally different. He was, as it were, actively passive. I lay down my life for the sheep. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it up again." And so, moving on to verses 14 and 15, he says, I am the good Shepherd, and I know my own and my own know me, even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. One commentator wrote that the word 'know' here is used in the sense of affectionate regard or love. It implies knowing their needs, their risks and characters to result in an interest in their welfare. So he knows them on an intimate level. So we see here the sacrificial love of the shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep.
  Next we will look at point number two, the submissive love of the shepherd, whose perfect obedience was the reason the Father loved him. Hang on to that thought, because that's huge. Again, the submissive love of the shepherd. So these are verses 16 and 17. 16 says, I have other sheep which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. And they will become one flock with one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again." So now let's look at the other sheep referred to in verse 16. In Acts 10, Peter has a vision of preparation to go and preach salvation to the Gentiles, which was a foreign concept, no pun, I guess, pun intended, uh, to the Jews, because, you know, all they had ever known that it was only to them that salvation was only offered to the Jews. But Peter has a vision to go to this Gentile named Cornelius from Caesarea. And also Cornelius has a vision to bring back, Peter to preach the gospel to him and those who are with him. Isn't that the sovereignty of the Lord to be doing both things at the same time? That's what he's doing here. He put it on Peter and gave him a vision, and then he put it on Cornelius's heart. And he has them going toward each other. That's God's sovereignty. There's no other word for it. So we pick up in Acts 10:34, and and it reads, "opening his mouth, Peter said, I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears him and does what is right is welcome to him. The word which he sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all." And then in Acts 10:44 it says, "while Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to to the message. All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also." Isn't that good news? That even though there are different sheep, including you and me, that there is but one shepherd to unite all that the Father has given the Son, and all that know his voice. John 10:27 says, "my sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me." Now let's look at verse 17. For this reason the Father loves me because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. This verse is profound and I don't want you to miss it. Jesus is about to tell us why the Father loves him. Did you catch that...for this reason. So He's about to tell us the reason the Father loves him. And I'm sitting here....That's right, that's right. Vicky, that's I did that about a thousand times as I was reading this. Just if there was a way to translate that into a sermon, I would, there would be a thousand. I mean, because it just it really just grips you. So I'm reading this and I read...for this reason the Father loves me...I mean, my brain is not that fast. But before I get to the next line, I'm thinking, why, why, why tell me...because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. F.F. Bruce says, "the Father loves the Son because of the Son's utter self-dedication to do the Father's will, even when this involves the laying down of his life. The Father would indeed glorify him with the glory which he had with the Father before the world existed. But the laying down of his life was not only the necessary precondition of his receiving that glory. It was the first stage in his being glorified. If he was to impart resurrection life to others, he must receive resurrection life Himself. And to receive resurrection life, he must first pass through death. Only by falling into the ground and dying could the grain of wheat yield much fruit." Then John 12:24, "only by laying down his life and receiving it again could the shepherd bring his other sheep together with the sheep from the original fold into one flock. So Jesus was submissive to the Father, to the Father's command to lay down his life. And the submissive love of the son to the Father demonstrates perfect obedience to his will. In John 6:38 we read, "for I have come down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. This is the will of him who sent me, that all that he has given to me, I lose nothing but raise it up on the last day." This past spring, we had quite a scare in our family as one of my daughters had a bleeding ulcer and needed to be taken by ambulance to Baptist Hospital. Melissa and I spent two nights away from the home, but the children here in our home, as well as my married children who live outside the home, put their normal daily life aside to keep the house running while we were away. They also made trips to Winston to bring us things that we needed. They selflessly and submissively and sacrificially gave of themselves as their sister was struggling. To run a house is not necessarily a sacrifice. A lot of people would probably disagree with me. In many ways it is. But in this case, they felt the weight and gravity of the situation, which was their motivation. They didn't give up their lives per se, but they offered them in service and submission to their parents. That's the picture we see here, that Jesus' submissive love laid down his life. And that is why the Father loved him.
  Having just looked at the submissive love of the good Shepherd. We will see now and look at the sovereign love of the shepherd, who willingly laid down his life, and by his own authority took it up again and raised himself from the dead. Thank you, thank you, Jesus. The third and last point is the sovereign love of the shepherd. No one has taken it away from me. But I lay it down on my own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from my Father. We know that Jesus was referring to his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead when he said, "I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again." It's as if he was saying, nobody's pulling the strings here but me. He told Pilate in John 19:11, you would have no authority over me unless it had been given to you from above. Here Jesus simultaneously demonstrated his messiahship and deity at the same time. Romans 1:4 says, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord. John MacArthur says, "as with everything he did, Christ exercised his authority to lay down his life and take it up again in voluntary compliance with, and loving obedience to, the commandment he received from the Father." By the power of his resurrection, he would raise all his flock to eternal glory. Believer that's you and that's me. What a beautiful picture of our hope and glory to be with our good Shepherd for all eternity. Jesus laid down his life on his own authority in the form of obedience, out of the love he has for his Father and for his sheep. Philippians 2:6 says, "who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a bond servant, and being made in the likeness of man...being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Verse 17 says, that's why the Father loved him, because he laid down his life. The shepherd willingly lays down his life for his own, and by his own power takes it up again. That this is tied to obedience to the Father, but by his own authority at the same time, and being that he is the sovereign over all life, he's the only one that could do that. That is what separates Christianity from all other religions....that the sovereign God of the universe, who is holy, holy, holy, sent His Son to come down to earth to reconcile fallen man to himself through the giving of his life on the cross, to pay for the sins that we committed by bringing us to him, to dwell with him for all eternity. That's the gospel...that he laid down his life for us, who did not deserve him to do that. But God demonstrated his love, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
  Now, let me share three ways that we can take comfort from Christ's role as the good Shepherd. The first one is knowing that we are guided by him. Proverbs 3:5 says to trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. And Psalm 119:105...everyone's familiar with...your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Shepherds guide their sheep by walking in front of them, using their voice to tell them to stop, turn, or to move forward. In John 10:4 we see this when he puts forth all his own. He goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow them because they know his voice. Isn't that like our Lord, who like a shepherd, he will tend his flock. In his arms He will gather the lambs and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead the nursing ewes. Well, if you know me, you've probably heard me quote this verse often. I love that picture that God himself does the tending, gathering, caring and gentle leading all the qualities that make a good shepherd. Take comfort in the fact that Christ, our great Shepherd, does all these things himself. He tends, he gathers, he carries, and he gently leads us, who so desperately need that.
  The second way we can take comfort from Christ's role as the good Shepherd is knowing that he is our provider. Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Shepherds provide for their sheep with food, water, and rest. They plan ahead the day's grazing, including which pastures to lead them to, and a day ahead they go out and they scope it out, and they find the best place. In John 6:33 we see, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. More than the nourishment that we certainly need, the Shepherd has provided salvation for his sheep. Again, we look back to John 10:9, "I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be" what?...saved. He will be saved. "And we'll go in and out and find pasture." And Luke 12:32 says, do not be afraid, little flock, for your father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Take comfort that your good shepherd will provide for you completely.

  And lastly, we can take comfort in knowing that we are protected by him. To the parents in here who are a type of shepherd, watching over the flock of your family that God has entrusted to you. What wouldn't you do to protect your children from danger? There's nothing you wouldn't do, right? Well, the King of glory, the Lord, strong and mighty. The Lord mighty in battle. The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. This is who is protecting his sheep. Take comfort in knowing that you are protected by the good Shepherd, who lays down his life and did lay down his life for his sheep...for you...for me. Another way that the Shepherd protects us is by calling under-shepherds our elders to protect his sheep. In Acts 20:28 it says. Be on guard for yourselves. And this is talking to the elders...overseers. Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he purchased with his own blood. 
  So I hope that it has been a joy for you to look at our good Shepherd this morning, and I hope it encourages you to know that Jesus loves us the same way His Father loves him. He says in John 15:9, just as the father has loved me, I have also loved you. Abide in my love. He wants us to know how much he loves us. Is he your good shepherd? Are you one of Christ's sheep? Have you realized you need a shepherd? Have you, by faith and repentance, trusted in him for your salvation? Or are you outside of Christ's sheepfold and therefore without protection? Subject and open to the attack of the wolves and thieves and robbers that prowl around like roaring lions, seeking those to devour. If that is you, I beg you to consider what it means to go alone and live apart from the good Shepherd. The sheep outside of the fold were left to fend for themselves, and face certain death...certain death. I might get lucky and not get, from a sheep's perspective, I don't need a shepherd. I might be able to handle it to fend off. No...to be outside of the fold was certain death. Turn to Christ today. If that's you, turn to Christ today and join the flock of the good Shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior. If you would like to know more about the good Shepherd and what it means to be one of his flock, elders will be up here up front immediately following the service and would love to talk to you.
  In closing, I would like for you to open your Bibles and follow along as I read the 23rd Psalm. I know listening to this sermon, you're like, okay, I know that's got to be in there somewhere. I'm just waiting for it. Well, here it is. It seems a fitting way to use the Psalmist's words to recap and reflect on what we've heard this morning, doesn't it? You all know Psalm 23. You can all probably quote it. We have all day. I can wait till I hear the pages stop turning because I love that sound. If you know people have, you know, a fan or the ocean, you know, to put them the sleep, if I if there could be one with Bible pages turning, that would be perfect.
  "The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the lord forever."
  Let's pray. Father, thank you for your word this morning that has shown us that we are sheep and in need of a shepherd. Thank you for your Son, who is our shepherd, and who gives his life for us on the cross, so that we may live eternally with him. Thank you for rescuing us from the domain of darkness and transferring us to the kingdom of your beloved Son. Thank you, Lord, that you have chosen us to be your sheep before the foundation of the world. And as it says in Ezekiel that you have placed your shepherd over us. Father, be with us as we go from here, and give us the words and the courage to tell others about Jesus Christ, who is the good Shepherd, and can be their Shepherd if they would repent and turn to you for salvation. Thank you for your steadfast love for us. In Christ's wonderful name we pray. Amen.